Slide fastener



March 15, 1960 5 1 ET AL SLIDE FASTENER 4 Sheets-sheet 1 Filed June 19, 1957 FIG. 3.

INVENTORS Gandolph Doe/fer Adolf Weissrnonn ATTORNEY March 15, 1960 DQELTER ETAL 2,928,156

SLIDE FASTENER Filed June 19, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.5. FIG.6.

as 28 84 as 90% e2 INVENTORS 24 Gandolph Doel fer Adolf Weissmo n ATTORNEY March 15, 1960 DOELTER ETAL SLIDE FASTENER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 19, 1957 FIG. l3.

FIG. I4.

INVENTORS Gar ldolph Doe/fer Adolf Weissman ATTORNEY Maia! 1960 G. DOELTER E L SLIDE FASTENER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 19, 1957 ATTORNEY SLIDE FASTENER I Gandolph Doelter, London, England, and Adolf -Wei$-.

man, New York, N. assignors Corporation, Panama, a corporation of Panama Application June 19, 1951, Serial No. 666,719

27 Claims. cum-205.1 u

This invention relates to a gas-tight slide 'fastenerand to the construction of a slider therefor. More" particularly, this, invention relates to a slide fastener that is sealed against water, gas, and dust by the mutual pres sure of a pair of stringers that are joined to form a single chain through the cooperation of a series of fastening elements, which form a part of each stringer, and a slider movable along the elements. The invention is particularly useful in connection with stringers constructed in the manner set forth in Mulka Patent No..2f,775,0 12,. issued Dec. 25, 1956, to which reference may be made for a more detailed description of the stringer construction,

but the invention has broader applicability and is not limitedto the constructtion set forthini that patent. I

-The aforementioned Mulka patent described a slide fastener. that is sealed against gas, dust and water by' are joined by the slider to form a closed fastener chain.' In this manner the flexible tape material is compressed to formasealed joint.

With the construction described so far,""difiiculties have been encountered in connection with the sealing of the finally closed end of'the fastener chain, that is,

to The New Zipper additional object of the invention is to provide ii 7 unique top stop for a slide fastener. A still further object of the invention is to provide a'slide fastener which incorporates a slider and top stop having a unique working relationship.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a'slide fastener of the foregoing type in which the top stop cooperates with the slider to control the insertion and withdrawal of a stripper lever with respect to the rows of fastening elements. a

Another object of the invention is to provide a slide fastener of theforegoing type in which the proper en-- gagement of the slider and top stop is ensured without; careful manipulation by the user.

v These and other objects of the invention will become more readily apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention when taken in conjunction withthe ac-' companying drawings which illustrate such embodiments and wherein:

Figure l is a top plan view partly in section of the slider and top stop of the invention; j Figure 2 is asectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1 in the direction of the arrows;

. Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional v1ew illustrating the.

. cooperation of the slider, top stop, and stringers;

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view illustrating the cooperation of the stripper lever, top stop, and stringers; j

Figure 5 is a transvere sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Figure l in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6 is a transverse partly sectional view of the slider taken along line -66 of Figure 1 in the direction of the arrows; Figure 7 is a bottom view, partlyin section, illustrating the engagement of the slider and top stop and the.

w locking of these elements together;

the end toward which the slider is moved: when the I fastener is being closed. 'Although attempts have been madeto solve this problem, prior to the present invention the solutions suggested have required skillful manipulation of the slider with both hands and have not proved satisfactory.

fastener which does notrequire skill or concentration by the user to operate the same and which requires the use of only one hand and is almost automatic in its.

action. 1

Another object of the invention is to provide a slide fastener which may readily be made gas andfiuid tight from end to end. v

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a slide fastener incorporating a positive safety lock to prevent accidental or unintentional opening of'the'fastener.

when it hasbeen fully closed.

' Still another object of the invention is 'to' provide a slide fastener of the foregoing type in which the lock is engaged automatically and is released by a single movement in the opening direction of the slider.

unique slider for a slide fastener.

A further object of the invention is to provide a 70 4 I tion to be described is lifted from between the stringers Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present. invention to provide a unique slide fastener,.a slide:

Figure 8 is a. partial view similar to Figure 7 and. illustrating the operation required to unlock the elements of that figure;

Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of apart of.

theislider;

Figure 10 i tied form of slider; p y g Y Figure 11 is a perspective view of apart of the modifiedslider;

Figure. 12 is fied top stop for use in conjunction with the modified slider;

Figure 13 is a plan view of Figure 12;

Figure 14. is a transverse sectional view of a detail.

of the modified slider; and

' Figure 15 is a perspective view of a slide fastener incorporating the modified slider and top stop and illus- N tratingadditional details of the stringer construction.

Briefly yet comprehensively stated, the invention com-.

prises a pair; of stringers each having a row of fastening. elements 'held within .a fold of a flexible tape, a slider movable along-the stringers to control the engagement and.

I disengagement of the fastening elements, and a top stop at the finally closed end of the stringers which clamps the. fastening elements of that end into permanent engagement and which receives the slider when the fastener is fully closed. The slider is provided with a stripper'lever which. pivots into the path of a channel formed in the slider body, and through which the fastening elements pass as the The stripper is effective to ensure the engagement or disengagement of the slider is moved'along the stringers.

fastening elements and by virtue of the novelconstrucs a longitudinal sectional view of-a" modif a side elevation view of a part of a. modi the part illustrated as the slider approaches the top stop. To promote the reinsertion of the stripper between the stringers as the fastener is opened, the fastening elements adjacent the top stop are mutilated to prevent their interlocking in; the normal manner, sealing of the fastener at this point being accomplishedby simple pressure upon the stringersby the slider body. A unique relationship between the slider and the top stop ensuresthe proper engagement off these parts and the proper operation of thestripper withoutrequiring concentration or skillful manipulation on the part of the .user. Moveover, a novel lock of extremeopera; tional simplicity (which may assume several forms)v provided to prevent accidental or unintentional opening of the fastener when the slider and the top stop have been engaged and the fastener is fully closed. The invention resides in the foregoing combination and in the combinations and subcombinations described below.

The slide fastener of the invention in the form shown comprises a pair of stringers (Figs. 3 and 4), each having a row of fastening elements 12 held. within a fold. of a flexible tape 14. The tape may be folded into an S-shape as shown in Fig. 4 and may be formed of a waterproof material, such as rubber or plastic, or be suitably treated to make it gas and/ or Water impervious. Each fastening element may have a stud body 16 embedded within the fold of the associated tape. and permanentlvfixed to the tape by a C-cla'mp 18 which embraces the material of the fold vabout the corresponding stud. Except as set forth below, each fastening element also has a head 20 which protrudes from the fold of the associated tape a'nd which has an angulated outer surface and a flat inner surface arranged to interlock with the corresponding surface of the adjacent fastening elements of the opposed tape., The

When the slider is moved to the finally closed end of I the slide fastener so as to engage the top stop in a manner to be described, the stripper must be withdrawn from between the stringers before the stringers merge into a closed chain inside the top stop 22 if the fastener is to be closed and sealedfrom end to end. Moreover, if the stripper is to be effective to open the fastener as the slider is moved j away from the top stop, the stripper must be positively in- The lifting of the stripper lever from between the stringof the stripperlever with the junction of the permanently closed fastening elements at the'top. stop. The top stop has a body 48 (Figs. 2 and 3) which has a channel 50 for receiving the permanently closed end 52 of the slider 'fastener. The top stop is firmly clamped over this end of the fastener and is held thereto by anchoring pins 54.

The. upper extremity of the. stop body is provided with a .bevelled $10,121.55 as shown in Figure 1, the slot receivingthe. nose38, of the stripper lever When:the.slider;movesonto the top stop and the. stripperlever is lifted from between thestringers at the point where the stringers. enter theto'p stop channel as a closed chain. .Thebevelled conandfi's. held between the upper. edges of the stringer tapesv as shown in Figure 4):by its hairpin spring42. It willibe noted that thecore 51 which defines the channel. 50fin the.top. stop. (as shown inFigs. 4 and 5) .hasaslot fastening elements at the initially closedend, ofthe fastenermay be clamped into permanent engagementby conventional means or as later described in connection with 'Figure '15; In accordance with the invention, the fastening elements at the finally closed end of the fastener are held in permanent engagement by a top stop 22 (Fig. 3) to be described in more detail hereinafter.

A slider 24 is arranged to move along the stringers between the initially wd finally closed ends and has. an outer shell 26 which supports the slider body proper 28 as by a plurality of machine screws 30. ,As shown in Figures 2, 3, and 6 the slider body is provided with a longitudinal groove which forms. a channel 32 for the passage of the rows of fastening elements therethroug'h. Entrance to the channel is provided by a longitudinal slot 33 through which tapes 14 pass. The channel'hasaspur.

groove 34 (Fig. 6) which receives the terminal edges: 36 (sh'ownin Fig. 4) of the opposed stringertapes 14 H Housed within a recess formed in the slider shell and. body is a stripper lever 36 (Figs. 1 and 2). This lever has a tapered nose or head 38 and is pivotable atone end about a pin 40 between upper and lower positions in which the head 38 is moved respectively out of and into the path of channel 32. The stripper lever is biased into the latter position by a hairpin spring 42 that is coiled about. the

pivot pin 40 and which has its ends engaging the shelll26 and the stripper lever 36, respectively. As shown,gthe

stripper lever may have a pair of legs 44 which rotatev about the pivot pin 40 and between which the hair spring 42 is mounted, one end, of the hair spring engaging an inclined surface 46 between the legs 44.

During the major portion of the travel of the slider along the stringers, the stripper head '38 'is inserted .betweenthe two stringers at the point where they leave the. slider channel (as shown in Fig. 3) and effects separation of the fastening elements of the opposed rows when the slider is moved in the opening direction and interlocking of the fastening elements when the slider is moved in the closing direction, the lateral surfaces ofthe stripper head being properly angulated to provide the required angleotengagement and disengagement for the op osearastenmg i elements;

I is. moved away from. the top stop, thefastening; elements I .12- adjacent the entrance to the top stop channel 50 are. decapitated or mutilatedas indicated at 58 (Fig. 3.) to

figuration of slot aidsin lifting the stripper lever. Thev tapered. noseof the. stripper then passes through this. slot 35 through, which the edges. 36 protrude for this purpose. The t'dpstop body 48. is also. provided with. aslot. 56. through which the stringer tapes. 14 .pass into. the top stop ch'anneL,

, ,ln order that thestripperlever may be readily inserted between the rows of fastening. elements when the slider prevent the interlocking of the. fastening elements over the length of fastener so treated. When the slider is. movedaway fro'rn'th'e top stop, the nose of the stripper lever 'ishrged betweenthe decapitated fastening elements unde'rthe bias, of.. .its hairpin spring, and the proper insertion of'thefstripperbetween the. stringers is. ensured by the fact that the nose of thestripper. lever lies.be-

tween the terminal edges 36 of the stringertapes when thelever passes throughthe. slot ofthetop stop as prev any described. ,IBy. virtue, OfQthisconstruction.the .ppe'r lever will always'be inserted between the stringerswhen the, slider is'moved'away fromthe top stop, {notwithstanding, the. factthat. the stripper .lever is. lifted teem, be tween'the rows of fastening elements when the slider is. moved to its finally closed position.

Although the mutilation of the fastening elements adjacent "the top stop channel prevents the interlocking of these elements, positive sealing of the fastener at this portion of its length isensured by theface toface pressure of theftape material. that is exerted by'the engagemeht of'the sliderchanne'l. with the .C-shaped clips-embracing the decapitated fastening. elements. Itisimmaterial whether the sealing contact between the opposing. -tape faces is produced by interlocking of the fastening elements or by thev application of lateral pressure, onthe- C shaped clips. p I

In both the inserting andglifting of the .stripper lever as described the force of the hairpin spring. 42. acting.

betweenthe slider body and the. stripperlever might tend to'tilt'the slider body "with respect to: the plane .of the fastener chain and the top stop to which the chain is firmly conne'cted. This would in turn tend to prevent the'depression of the stripper into the joint'of the stringers whenthe fastener is opened or .to interfere with the proper alignment "of "the slider and top 's'top"when the L fastener is. about. to be era es-ans subsequently "when the stripper rests raised betweentlieterminal-edgesof provided between the slider body and top' stop. Such a guide must positively align the slider and the top stop just before and also during'the lifting or inserting movement of the stripper lever as well as when the nose of the stripper lever rests vithin theslot of the top stop.v To accomplish the foregoing purpose ofv guiding and,

aligning, the top stop is provided'with a pair of arms 60 which are received within corresponding recesses 62 formed in the slider body above and to each side of the slider channel 32 (see Figs. l, 2,6 and 7).

joined, as by screws 61, 'to' the core 51. Asshown in Figures 6 and 7 the configuration of the top stop and slider body is such .thatthe arms- 60 are surrounded by the slidershell and body on'all'sides, the slider body- The proper seating of the top stop arms within the' corresponding recesses of the slider would normally require a careful and properly directed approach of the slider toward the top stop during the final closing movement. This would necessitate'undesirable attention on the part of the user. To avoid this complication, the

portion'of the slider body leading into the two recesses I 62 is flared as indicated at 68 in Figures 1 and 7v to provide an easy lead into the recesses for the two guiding arms 60 of the top stop. By virtue of this construction, the slider can be pushed over the top stop with little attention to exact alignment and becomes operable even in complete darkness, since anangle of misalignment of about 20 degrees to either side of the top stop axis is corrected by the flared entry.

In order to maintain the integrity of the seal provided by theslide fastener of the invention, it is important that the slider remain in engagement with the top stop and that accidental or unintentional movement of the slider so as to open the fastener be prevented. Pursuant to this purpose, a lock is provided for maintaining the slider and top stop in engagement. In a first'form, the lock comprises a leaf spring 70 (Figs. 1, 7, and 8) that is received within a recess 72 formed in one of the guide arms 60 of the top stop and that is fixednear one end to the said arm as by rivets 74. The free end of the leaf spring;

70 is bent outwardly and constitutes a detent 76 that extends beyond the outer surface of the supporting guide arm. vThe sidewall of the slider adjacent the leaf spring is provided witharecess 78 to receive the detent 76, one

wall of recess 78 forming an abutment 80 against which I the detent 76 may rest when the slider rests over the top stop. The detent engages the abutment 80 along a lower' portion of the detent edge, but the abutment is shorter than the detent edge so that the upper portion of the detent edge is exposed for cooperation with the ramp or incline 82 of aslide 84 that is recip'rocatively mounted within a slot 86 in the sidewall, ,of theslider shell (see the slider and in which the ramp or incline 82 is disengaged from the edge of the detent 76 (Fig. 7) When slide 84 is moved in the opening'direction of the fastener (i.e., the direction in which slider 24 moves to open the fastener), ramp 82 engagesthe' edge of'detent 76 and forces the detent out of the recess 78 in the-slider, away from abutment 80 and back into the recess 72 in the top spam- Fig. 8). Motioii ofthe slide is limited at the Arms 60, may be formed integrally with the body 48 of'the top stop, which ispreferably formed in twotparts that are' When the arms 60 are fullyreceived ends of its travel bystop surfaces 97 and 98, "spectively. The opposite side extremity of the. slider is provided} with a false slide 92 having a lug 94 correspondinggenfi erally to the lug 88 previously described. -",This slide is fixed to the slider, as'by rivets 96.

It will be noted that the lug 94 is closer to the end plate 64o'fthe sliderj than is lug 88 when the movable slide 84 is in itsnormal; relaxed-position. This arrangement of lugs'j88jand'94 and the fact that the unlocking movement of slide 841s I in the same direction as the openingrnovement of 'thei slider 24 greatly facilitates the operation of the in'vention. When the fingers of theuser 'grasp'the slider to.- pull or push the slider from the top stop and open thej ,fastener, the fingers first engage the lug 88 of the mo v; able slide 84 because of the fact that this lug is closest to the finally closed end of the fastener. Slight pressure of a finger against lug 88 causes the slide 84 to move along the slider against the slight'bi-as of the return spring 90 and engages the ramp 82 withthedetent 76 so as to move the detent out of its recess in the slider. This action unlocksthe slider from the top stop, and when the lug 88 approaches the limit of its unlocking movement, the fingers of the user engage lug 94fas well and thus readily exert the force necessary to draw the slider off ofthe top stop. It is thus apparent that the slider v is unlocked and disengaged from the top stop in a single continuous movement. J

In the closing movement'of the slider, the fingers of the user first engage the lug 94 which is closest to the initially closed end of the fastener, but engagement-with the lug 88 would not be detrimental to the operationof the fastener, because the'force'exerted on this lug would merely be transmitted to the stop 'surfa'ce98} in theslider 1 shell. When the slider has been moved intofinal en-.' gagement with the top stop, the detent 76 enters the re-' cess 78 in the slider and firmly locks the slider-to the top I stop. This locking action is automatic andfrequires no, attention from the user. Moreover, the metal to metal contact betwen the detent 76 and the abutment produces an audible click that is a positive indication of the proper operation of the lock.

In some applications of the invention -it may be desirable to provide a conventional pull tab for' movingthe slider in the closing direction and also for moving the slider in the opening direction after the lock has been I released. This may be accomplished by siiriply providing' abridge piece 99 rigidly attached to the upper side of the slider shell 26, as shown in Figure 9, and a'ring 99a movable along the bridge piece by a pull -tab.9 9b,. which may be formed of fabric.. j

Figure 10 illustrates a modified form. of slider which. incorporates a modified form of sliderlockl'QThe slider generally designated 100 has a. slider Shellff-102 with a,

, fiai'e'dend 104. The slider has a body 106 which defines a channel 107 for' the passage of the stringer tapes. A stripper lever 108 pivotable about a pin114'is held with-ff in a recess in the slider 'body'and is urged by a hair-' pin spring 11-2 to a downward position in the path of 7 channel 107. The slider described so far, issubstantial ly identical to the previously described embodiment of; the invention. However, in placesofthe locking mecha- 1' nism ofthe previously described e'mbod-ir'nent' (the-real, and dummy slides, L-shaped leaf spring, etc.) the following locking mechanism is provided,- On the top off the outer shell 102, a bridge piece lever 11 6, is mounted' This piecehas one end 118-.of generally S-shaped configuration held loosely within'ran opening 120 in the shel l of'the slider. It will be notedthat end is under' the adjacent'portion of the shell and has an abut; mentjust outsideopening. -120 at 121 to support theend on the shell. The opposite. end 122 of. the bridge piece. passes through an aperture 124 in the. shell at the corre-Q sponding end ,ofthe'f'slider and has an extension that is hooked under; thejbigh't or, ei'1 d 1'2-5 of a 'U-shap'e d'fl'at'l:

spring 126. "The sp'ring" is' better seen in"Figure '11" wherein the legs 122 of the spring are seento have flat I ex rem ti -are. p be w e shell 'aiid lied of theslid'eras indicated in Figure 14, i i 5 end (if jtheU-shaped spring is fixedwithiri' "The" p er lever108 isj fre to'pivot bei li' d'.

cam step 130 adapted for encircurnferfen f tbfiring 132 piece is" threaded 'Wheii" the as 'a pull tab 133, toward the end I 7 e p d cu af oft'hespringand' cons tute Each o f tliese pro ectiens is arrangedtoengage a recess 13: in a corresponding"arm13 8 of thetopfst-op, onearm regoing description of i: at 1 1 f s e r m y. p s a, me ah n i ne 'ctibii or 'the other along theleng'th ofthe stringers;

Front Figure '10 it can be seerrthat ifthe tabfring is pulled to the end .113 jof th'e bridge piece, it will exert dfree a the. bridge piece that will be transmitted to the slider shell and body so as to move the slideralong the stringers andonto thetop stop". 'Whenthe slider is .j properly in place ontlie top'stop, the projections 134 of .the flat spring 126 will entertherecesses 136 in the top stop guide arms and willsecurely lock the" slider to thetopstop. If the tab vring is then pulled'to the en d 122 of the'bridge'piece, it will engage the'carn step 130 aid thereby raise the asjsocia'ted endof the bridge piece alongwith the 'adjac nt end of the flatspring, so as to remove the projectionsfilfl"from the recesses 136 in the top stoparins f This will release the'slider fromthe top stop, and continued pull onthetab ringwill move the slider from the top stopand'open the fastener. The

modifiedformpf the, invention providesa jslider which may'jbeoperated'bythe conventional pull tab butwhich nevertheless retains the desirable features by which .the

slider and top stop may be engaged and locked, or un-' loc'kedan'd dis-ngagedjby'single continuous movements in the closing and opening directions, respectively.

The slide fastener"just described also incorporates thst ature l g may. l eu d i e ini i described form of the invention if desired: The stripper lever has a'transverse pill [142, which extends from opposite sides 'pf the l'ever (although a pin extending from one'side may' suffice) "asshown in Figures lOand 15. Eiach idfffl lflnfi 138f0f i1h topstep is provided with a ram; 144 Wlrichjfhas a flared entrance at the tip of the rngextends toward'lthe fin'ally' closed end of the fastener' and upwardly to a flared entrance at the top of thea rm} When the slider is'moved onto the top stop," the "ends of pin142enter the respective grooves 144, and theinose'ofthe stripperlever is lifted bythe camming action of theprh in thegrooves, the pin moving upwardly intheigroeves "until it rests on" the respectiveupper surpfstop sj Since the stripper lever nner, the slot 141 in the f.,.i 'e p ig slxkt r;

" t ff scribed embodiment, but is siinplywide enough to allow the nose of the stripper lever to be inserted between the upwardly extending edges of the stringer tapes.

Figure 15 illustrates in greater detail the manner in which the opposite. ends ofthe' stringers may be formed.

As shown, a projection146 may be providedto secure the finally closed end of the fastener. This projection may befrnolded about the fastening elements at the fas'tenerend and also bonded to the adjacent face of the the fastening elements atthe opposite end. The stringer tapes 14,when formed of rubber or similar moldable'; material, mayi beunited at opposite ends as shown at 1 52and 15 4"by" molding operations in which the pro} jections'146 'andj150 are formed and made integral with the stringers;

It is apparent from the foregoing description thatthe, inventionprovides a fastener having unique charac'terf-j isticsa'nd definite advantages overprior fasteners. While thjere have been" described and illustrated what are now:

believedto be preferred embodiments of the invention,

changes' may be made in such embodiments without dcplarti'ng from the principles and spirit of the invention,

the scope of which is defined in the appended claims. Accordingly, the foregoing embodiments are to be taken asdlliistrative r'ather than restrictive of the invention dt o m fic t nsiwh s j me w th h e a. and range of equrvalencyofthe claims are'to befm'' cluded therein: We claim:

A ide aste er comp in a P of p osed. stringers having opposed rows "of fastening elements therealong arranged for mutual fengagenrent to join said? stringersfa slider movable al'ong' said stringers and hay-ff ing a body embracing said rows of fastening elements to urge them into engagement, said slider having a stripper movable between the fastening elements or the respective.

stringers to disengage said elements, and means 'fixedto the finally closed end of said fastener for lifting said stripper from between the rows of fastening elements as it approaches said end of said fastener so that the fastening elements near said fastener end'may be urged togetherwithout the interposition'ofsaidstripper. f

2.'The slide fastener of claim l,wherein said "slider has a channel therethrough for passage of said fastening elements and said stripper c'omprises' a leven having a"head portion springbiased into'the path, ofsaid channel.

3; A slide fastener comprising a pair of opposed stringers having opposed rows of fastening elements,

therealong arranged for mutual engagement to joinsa'id stringers, a slidermova'ble alongsaid stringers and hav ing a body embracing said rowsoffastening elements to,

urge them'into engagement, said slider having 'a stripper "movable between the fastening elements of the respective stringers todisengage saidelemenjts, and means for lifting 'said'stripper from betweenthe rows of fastening ele-. ments as it approachesthefinally closed end of said fastener so that the fastening elementsfnear said fastener '1 end may be urged together withoutthe interposition of 7 said stripper, said fastening'elements comprise studs. at tached to said stringers, the studs near said finally closed fastener end bein'gfheadlessj to allow the ready insertion of'said stripper'between said rows of fastening element's; and the studs'along the major having interlocking heads.

contact.

length of said stringers spasms: I

f9 stringers having opposed;- row's of 1 fastening :elements therealong arranged for mutual engagement to join said stringers, a slider movable along said stringers and .hav ing a body embracing said rows of fastening elements, to urge them into engagement, said slider having a stripper movable between the fastening elements of the respective stringers to disengage said elements, means for'liftin'g said stripper from between the rows of fastening elements as it approaches the finally closed end ofsaid fastener so that the fastening elements near said fastener end may be urged together without the interposition-l of said stripper, and a stop at said finally closed;end;gs aid stop embracing the fastening elements of said rows adjacent said end to hold them in engagement, said-lifting means comprising the last-mentioned fastening 'elements.

6. The slide fastener of claim 5, wherein said stop has arms which telescope with said slider body'to align said slider and said stop.

7. The slide fastener of claim 6, wherein the end of said slider facing said stop diverges to receive said arms therein.

8. The slide fastener of claim 5, wherein the fastening elements adjacent said stop are mutilated to prevent their interlocking, thereby to allow said stripper to enter readily between said rows of fastening elements. I

9. The slide fastener of claim 5, wherein said slider and said stop have cooperating releasable locking elements to hold said slider to said stop.

10. A slide fastener comprising a pair of opposed stringers having opposed rows of fastening elements therealong arranged for mutual engagement to join-said stringers, a slider movable along said stringers and having a body embracing said rows of fastening elements to urge them into engagement, and a stop connected to the finally closed end of said fastener, said stop and said slider having cooperating releasable locking elements for holding said slider to said stop, said locking elements comprising a spring biased detent secured to said stop, an abutment surface on said slider for engaging said detent, and a detent release on said slider for moving said detent away from said abutment surface.

11. The slide fastener of claim 10, wherein said spring biased detent comprises a leaf spring, said spring being mounted on an arm part of said stop which telescopes with said slider, and wherein said detent release comprises a slidable incline arranged to engage said spring and stress the same into a non-locking position.

l2. The-slide fastener of claim 11, wherein said slidable incline is attached to a lug movable along said slider in the direction of its motion along said stringers, said lug being resiliently biased to disengage said incline and detent spring. 1

13. The slide fastener of claim 12, wherein said slider has a second lug fixed thereto, said lugs extending jfifom opposite sides of said slider and the second lug being farther from the finally closed end of said fastener than said firstlug.

14. A slide fastener comprising a pair of opposed stringers having opposed rows of fastening elements therealong arranged for mutual engagement to join said stringers, a slider movable along said stringers and having a body embracing said rows of fastening elements to urge them into engagement, and a stop connected to the finally closed end of said fastener, said stop and said slider having-cooperating releasable locking elements for holding said slider to said stop, said locking elements comprising a spring biased detent on said slider and an abutment for said detent on said stop, and means on said slider for disengaging said detent from said abutment, the last-mentioned means comprising a tab slidable along said slider and a lever arranged to be raised by said tab and connected to said detent to raise the same therewith.

19 5 -15; The'slide fastener ofclaim14, wherein said lever is pivotable at one end onsaid slider and has a cam surface near its other end enga'geable by said tab td lift said lever.

16. The" slide fastener of claim 15, wherein said detent is supported by 'a flat spring fixed near one of its ends on saidslider and 'free for movement at its 'other end, said other end of said lever being hooked under said other end of said flat spring.

17. The slide fastener of claim 16, wherein said flat spring is U-shaped, and wherein said slider has a stripper leverpivotable thereon for, movement between the legs...0i; said U-shaped spring into a position between said rows of fastening elements, said stop having means for lifting said stripper lever from said position.

18. A slide fastener comprising a pair of opposed stringer tapes having opposed rows of fastening elements therealong, each of said tapes being folded into a sub stantially S-shaped cross-sectional configuration and having its fastening elements held within a part of its fold with head portions exposed for engagement with the opposed elements of the other tape, a stop having a body with a channel therein, said channel embracing said tapes along a portion of their length and holding them together at said portion, said channel having an opening along one side thereof into which said tapes pass and an opening along the opposite side thereof through which the terminal edge portions of said tapes protrude, a slider movable along said tapes and having a body which embraces said tapes and urges said rows of opposed fastening elements into engagement, said slider having a stripper lever pivotable thereon between a first position in which said. lever has a portion between said rows of fastening elements and a second position in which said lever portion is withdrawn from between said rows, said stripper lever being resiliently biased to said first posi-- tion, and means associated with said stop for moving said stripper lever to said second position and for locating said stripper lever portion between said terminal edge portions of said tapes.

19. The slide fastener of claim 18, wherein the lastmentioned means comprises a slot in said stop through which said lever portion passes.

20. The slide fastener of claim 19, wherein the tapes adjacent said stop are arranged to be free from positive fastening element engagement, whereby said lever portion may be readily inserted therebetween as it moves from said slot.

21. The slide fastener of claim 20, wherein said stop has guide arms arranged to extend into corresponding recesses formed in said slider and wherein said slider is flared at the end toward said stop to guide said arms into said recesses.

22. The slide fastener of claim 21, wherein said slider and said stop have cooperating locking elementsautomatically engageable upon movement of said slider onto said stop to hold the slider thereto and disengageable by a single unlocking movement in the direction of mo tion of said slider away from said stop.

23. A slide fastener comprising a pair of opposed stringers having opposed rows of fastening elements therealong arranged for mutual engagement to join said stringers, a slider movable along said stringers and having a body embracing said rows of fastening'elements to urge them into engagement, said slider having a stripper movable between the fastening elements of the respective stringers to disengage said elements, a stop at the finally closed end of said fastener, said step having at leastone arm arranged to telescope with said slider, said arm and said stripper having associated cam elements for lifting said stripper from between the rows of fastening elements as it approaches said finally closed end.

24. The slide fastener of claim 23, wherein said cam elements comprise a groove extending away from the tip 1 1 dfth eia rm and'upwardly; and a pin fixed to thestripper j Refe'felic'esCi ted in thedile, of thisqiatnt imm ab e alon mv y 1 1 1 1 x 25; The slide fasteiler of claim 1, -wh er ein said I v STATES PATENTS v stringc s compr tapes of r materia 5 gqwk "f"'" "f"r" v 26. The'slide fastener of claim 25, wherein said-{apes l" aisecured w d at each n n prdvidd i h 21373I'i41 Dbnaldsoii1212211212212 FEB. 17 1959 proj ec tions which encas'and hoid'tpgthrilie cog-yes; pgndigg ends of the rows of fsifitii flgleleiiiefiis. FOR I PATENTS- 2 7. The slide 'fastqner of claim 26 further including 303,331 Germany July 9, 195 g'stop ior said slidgr'bonded to one of said'projecti'om. 1;005;5'46 France Apr. 11, 195?. 

